Rejecting consumerism

As a college student for a few years now, it's been a bit hard to keep myself entertained, pay bills and do much of anything without having a lot of money.

In the most recent years, I have begun to understand consumerism and the ties it has to the destruction of the earth, exploitation of people and animals, and the ways it reinforces the ills of the capitalist system. I have always been fond of the DIY (do-it-yourself) lifestyle and of course, recycling, reducing and reusing.

With the limited funds and resources I do have as a college student and single mother, I have adapted to these ways of living, as well as rejecting consumerism and understanding everything is NOT a commodity. In the process of all that, realizing the privilege I have, I can reject consumerism and capitalism, I do have a choice in that and always keeping that in mind. Sometimes people don't have a choice but to only participate in it and in the worst ways possible.

I became creative in my DIY lifestyle and finding ways to distress myself for free or cheap. It's not hard. I've organized countless activities including dance parties, movie nights, art nights, potlucks and other fun events with family, friends, classmates and peers.

These events can be organized at your own home or others. Everyone can bring something to share and pass on to others and this way you can start building your own local community with each other where you can exchange and share food, books, music, movies, anything really.

This is also a great way to meet other people and to expand your community to new people in the area and to others that may be interested.

Other fun ways are checking out local art galleries and photography galleries. Sometimes these places are free or cheap and it's a great way to support the local community.

You can get a group of friends together to meet up and check out these places together, making it a regular event. There are a few in Grand Forks and even one on campus. Supporting local music scenes at different venues around the area, open mic nights and poetry readings at coffee shops, to putting on your own events, checking out local thrift stores for clothes, household items and more - the possibilities are endless!

Someone can also create their own things, grow their own garden, share skills to get things fixed, work with others to make their own things - anything from reusable bags to new clothes made out of old clothes, making your own beer, growing your own herbs and spices.

Save glass jars to store food and other items in them, reuse small plastic bags, buy yourself a reusable coffee mug and water bottle!  Some of this does and can take time, but it's an amazing way to save yourself money over time, help the environment and reject consumerism.

A lot of things in our lives are sought to be a commodity and not a need. Food and drink are needs, not commodities. There is no need for us to buy $100 pair of pants and someone made them for $1 a week, especially when we can be used and make them ourselves. Not only are these suggestions for us all as college students, but also it can continue after college. This is not only good for ourselves, family and friends - but good for the Earth, other people, animals and allowing others to see it is possible.